Celebrate National Park and Recreation Month

Apr 24, 2014

Since 1985, America has officially recognized National Park and Recreation Month in July. The community parks and recreation centers we celebrate play a vital role in promoting the health and well being of people of all ages. Parks—whether city, state or national—provide safe places for residents to socialize and enjoy the outdoors. They have been attributed to overall good health, stress reduction and economic stimulation. Similarly, recreation programs provide residents the opportunity to get active and participate in sports and other activities, which can decrease obesity, ease chronic health conditions, reduce depression and promote self-esteem.Local parks and recreational programs serve as a critical front-line resource to improve the health and happiness of our communities and their members. This year, continue the tradition of celebrating National Park and Recreation Month by promoting your local parks and recreational facilities to the community. Here are some ways you can promote all they have to offer.

Get the word out: Let your community members know National Park and Recreation Month is approaching and why it’s a reason to celebrate. Print flyers and Rack Cards with the “Top 5 Reasons to Visit Your Local Parks and Recreational Facilities.” Distribute them with monthly water or utility bills, or post them at local pools, golf courses, park buildings and other publically owned facilities.

Hold a contest: Ask community members to share pictures or videos on your social media sites of them participating in their favorite park activities or recreational programs. Hold a contest for best photo or video, pick weekly winners and distribute golf umbrellas, garden tool sets and beach towels as prizes.

Reward involvement: Promote parks and recreation all month long by rewarding those that use your facilities with a small gift. If you run a community pool, imprint mini beach balls that say, “National Park and Recreation Month 2014” and provide them to swimmers. Or, if your community has a state park, offer a frequent flier program during the month of July where, for every visit, park-goers receive an entry into a drawing for a prize—Trailblazer Excursion Sets or camping chairs make nice choices.

Host an event: Are you planning your own National Parks and Recreation Month celebration? Register as an official participant on the National Recreation and Park Association website to share event details, including date, time and location—there’s even a spot to include your website and social media channels.

Regardless of what your community offers and how you choose to promote it, don’t miss out on the great opportunity to celebrate during National Park and Recreation Month.

1: Amtrak Day
1: Batman Day
1: Beltaine
1: Executive Coaching Day
1: Global Love Day
1: Keep Kids Alive! Drive 25 Day
1: Law Day
1: Lei Day
1: Loyalty Day
1: May Day
1: Mother Goose Day
1: National Bubba Day
1: National Day of Prayer
1: National Day of Reason
1: New Homeowner’s Day
1-4: Satchmo Days
1: School Principals’ Day
1: Silver Star Day
1: Stepmother’s Day
2: Martin Z. Mollusk Day
2: Roberts Rule of Order Day
2: Tuba Day
3: Armed Forces Day Military-Amateur Crossband Communications Day
3: Beer Pong Day
3: Bladder Cancer Awareness Day
3: Free Comic Book Day
3: Garden Meditation Day
3: Hug Your Cat Day
3: International Space Day
3: Join Hands Day
3: Lumpy Rug Day
3: National Homebrew Day
3: National Scrapbooking Day
3: National Two Different Colored Shoes Day
3: No Pants Day
3: Paranormal Day
3: Public Radio Day
3: Space Day
3: World Press Freedom Day
3: Kentucky Derby
4: Birthmother’s Day
4: Intergalactic Star Wars Day(May the Fourth 4: Be With You!)
4: International Baby Lost Mother’s Day
4: International Firefighters Day
4: International Respect for Chickens Day
4: Lemonade Day
4: Mayday for Mutts
4: Motorcycle Mass & Blessing of The Bikes Day
4: National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
4: National Infertility Survival Day
4: Petite and Proud Day
4: Star Wars Day
4: World Give Day
4: World Laughter Day
4: Yom HaZiKaron
5: Cartoonists Day
6: Childhood Depression Awareness Day
5: Childhood Stroke Awareness Day
5: Cinco de Mayo
5: International Midwives’ Day
5: Melanoma Monday
5: National Ferret Day
5-6: National Library Legislative Day-6
5: Totally Chipotle Day
6: Buddah Day
6: Give Local America
6: Joseph Brackett Day
6: No Diet Day
6: No Homework Day
6: Nurses Day or National RN Recognition Day
6: National Teacher Day
6: World Asthma Day
6: Vom HaAtzmout
7: Bike To School Day
7: Great American Grump Out
7: National Barrier Awareness Day
7: Occupational Safety & Health Day
7: School Nurse Day
8: Free Trade Day

8: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
8: National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day
8: No Socks Day
8: Time of Remembrance & Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War-9
8: V E Day
8: World Red Cross / Red Crescent Day
9: Ascension Day
9: National Moscato Day
9: Occupational Safety and Health Professionals Day
9: Child Care Provider Day (Friday before Mother’s Day)
9: Fintastic Friday: Giving Sharks A Voice
9: Military Spouse Appreciation Day (Friday before Mother’s Day)
9: National Special-abled Pets Day
10: Armed Forces Day (AFD) Military-Amateur Crossband Communications Day
10: Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Awareness Day
10: International Migratory Bird Day
10: Letter Carrier’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Day
10: Mother Ocean Day
10: National Babysitters Day
10: National Miniature Golf Day
10: National Train Day
10: National Windmill Day
10: Spring Astronomy Day
10: Stay Up All Night
10: Windmill Day
10: World Belly Dance Day
10: World Fair Trade Day
10: World Lupus Day
11: Eat What You Want Day
11: Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day
11: Hostess Cupcake Day
11: Mother’s Day
11: Mothers At The Wall Day
11: Root Canal Appreciation Day
12: Hug Your Cat Day (Purina)
12: International Nurses Day
12: Limerick Day
12: National Nutty Fudge Day
12: Odometer Day
13: Frog Jumping Day
14: Buddah Day
14: Day of Vesak (On the Full Moon)
14: Donate A Day’s Wages To Charity
14: National Chicken Dance Day
14: National Night Shift Workers Day
14: National Third Shift Workers Day
14: National Women’s Check-up Day
14: Receptionists Day
14: The Stars and Stripes Forever Day
14: Underground America Day
15: Hyperemisis Gravidarum Awareness Day
15: International Day of Families
15: International MPS Awareness Day
15: National Chocolate Chip Day
15: National Tuberous Sclerosis Day
15: Nylon Stockings Day
15: Peace Officer Memorial Day
15: National Employee Health & Fitness Day
15: Straw Hat Day
16-18: Bats Day-18
16: Biographer’s Day
16: Endangered Species Day
16: International Virtual Assistants Day
16: O. Henry Pun-off Day
16: NASCAR Day
16: National Bike to Work Day
16: National Defense Transportation Day
16: National Pizza Party Day
16: National Sea Monkey Day
17: Armed Forces Day
17: Do Dah Day (Birmingham) Note: Several cities have a Do Dah Day.
17: Lag B’omer
17-18: Mike, The Headless Chicken Day
17-18: Morel Mushroom Day

17: National Learn To Swim Day
17: Preakness
17: Syttende Mai
17: World Hypertension Day
17: World Information Society Day
17: World Telecommunications Day
17: World Neurofibromatosis Day (NF Day)
18: Bay to Breakers Race Note: Oldest Footrace in America!
18: HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
18: I Love Reeses Day
18: International Museum Day
18: Mother Whistler Day
18: Neighbor Day
18: Visit Your Relatives Day
19: Accountant’s Day or Accounting Day
19: Boys Club Day
19: May Ray Day
19: National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
19-21: World Autoimmune Arthritis Day
20: Eliza Doolittle Day
20: Everybody Draw Mohammed Day
20: Weights & Measures Day
21: American Red Cross Founder’s Day
21: End of the World or Rapture Party Day (Prediction)
21: I Need A Patch For That Day
21: National Endangered Species Day
21: National Wait Staff Day
21: Sister Maria Hummel Day
21: Turn Beauty Inside Out Day
21: Victoria Day
21: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue & Development
22: Canadian Immigrants Day
22: Harvey Milk Day
22: International Day for Biological Diversity
22: National Maritime Day
22: National Museum Day
22: World Goth Day
23: Declaration of the Bab Day
23: National Taffy Day
23: National Wig Out Day
23: World Crohn’s and Colitis Day
23: World Turtle Day
23: Don’t Fry Day
23: Heat Awareness Day
24: Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day (ARMAD)
24: Brother’s Day
24: International Jazz Day
24: International Tiara Day
24: Julia Pierpont Day
24: Morse Code Day
24: Cookie Monster’s Birthday
Indianapolis 500
24: National Missing Children’s Day
24: National Tap Dance Day
24: Nerd Pride Day or Geek Pride Day
25: Towel Day
26: Memorial Day(Observed.)
26: Prayer for Peace Memorial Day
26: World Lindy Hop Day
27: Cellophane Tape Day
28: National Senior Health & Fitness Day
28: Sierra Club Day
28: Slugs Return From Capistrano Day
28: World MS Day (Multiple Sclerosis)
29: Ascension of Baha’u’Llah
29: Learn About Composting Day
29: International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
29: Put A Pillow On Your Fridge Day
30: Loomis Day
30: Mint Julep Day
30: Heat Awareness Safety Day
31: Hug Your Cat Day
31: What You Think Upon Grows Day
31: The Wicket World of Croquet Day
31: World No-Tobacco Day

1: Children’s Awareness Memorial Day
1: Global Day of Parents
1: Heimlich Maneuver Day
1: National Cancer Survivors Day
1: National Go Barefoot Day
1: Oscar The Grouch Day
1: Say Something Nice Day
1: Stand For Children Day
1: Superman Day
2: National Bubba Day
2: National Leave the Office Early Day
2: National Thank God It’s Monday Day
2: Yell “Fudge” at the Cobras in North America Day
3: Chimborazo Day
3: Shavuot: 3
4: Audacity To Hope Day
4: International Day of Innocent Children 4: Victims of Aggression
4: National Tailors Day
4-5: Shavuot-5
5: Apple II Day
5: Hot Air Balloon Day
5: National Moonshine Day
5: National Running Day
5: World Environment Day
6: Atheists Pride Day
6: D-Day
6-7: Doughnut Day or Donut Day
6: Drive-in Movie Day
6-8: Horseradish Days
6-8: National Lemonade Days
6-8: Positive Power of Humor and Creativity Days
6: Russian Language Day
7: National YoYo Day (Always on the Birthday of Donald Duncan)
7-8: Banana Split Days-8
7: Belmont Stakes
7: (Daniel) Boone Day
7: Do-Dah Parade Day (Kalamazo,MI)
7: Drawing Day or Pencil Day
7: National Trails Day
7: Turtle Races Day
7: Xterra Off-Road Triathalon
7: VCR Day
8: Children’s Sunday
8: Multicultural American Child Day
8: National Caribbean American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
8: Ride The Wind Day, Ride For Wind Day or World Wind Day
8: Race Unity Day
8: Upsy Daisy Day
8: World Oceans Day
9: Abused Women and Children’s Awareness Day
9: Donald Duck Day

9: World APS Day
10: Alcoholics Anonymous (Founders) Day
10: Ball Point Pen Day
10: Iced Tea Day
10: World Pet Memorial Day
11: Corn on the Cob Day
12: Crowded Nest Awareness Day
12: Loving Day
12: National Jerky Day
12: National Peanut Butter Cookie Day>
12: Career Nurse Assistants Day
12: Superman Day
12: World Day Against Child Labor
13: Blame Someone Else Day
13: Ryan Moran Day
13: Work@Home Father’s Day
14: Army’s Birthday
14-15: Dollars Against Diabetes Day(s)
14: Family History Day
14: Flag Day
14: International Young Eagles Day
14: National Bourbon Day
14: Pause for the Pledge Day
14: (World) Blood Donor Day
14: World Juggling Day
14: Worldwide Knit (and crotchet) in Public Day
14: Queen’s Official Birthday
15: Family Awareness Day
15: Father’s Day
15: Husband Caregiver Day
15: Magna Carta Day
15: Native American Citizenship Day
15: Nature Photography Day
15: National Day of Prayer for Law Enforcement Officers
15: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
15: Worldwide Day of Giving
16: Bloomsday
16: Fudge Day
16: Ladies’ Day (Baseball): 16
16: Ride To Work Day (Motorcycles)
17: Stewarts Root Beer Day
17: World Day To Combat Desertification and Drought: 17
18: International Sushi Day
19: Garfield the Cat Day
19: Juneteenth: 19
19: Recess At Work Day
19: World Sickle Cell Day
19: World Sauntering Day
20: American Eagle Day
20: Dump The Pump Day
20: National Flip Flop Day (Shoes)
20: Take Your Dog To Work Day

20: Ugliest Dog Day
20: World Productivity Day
20: World Refugee Day
21: Ann & Samantha Day
21: Atheists Solidarity Day
21: Go Skateboarding Day
21: National Daylight Appreciation Day
21: Polar Bear Swim (Nome, AK)
21: Summer Solstice (Summer) at 6:51 am
21: World Handshake Day
21: World Humanist Day
22: Global Smurfs Day
22: Stupid Guy Thing Day
23: Baby Boomer’s Recognition Day
23: International Widows’ Day
23: Let It Go Day
23: Pink Flamingo Day (Lawn Ornaments)
23: Public Service Day
23: SAT Math Day
24: Celebration of the Senses
24: International Fairy Day or Faerie Day
24: National Columnists Day
25: Color TV Day (CBS): 25
25: Day of The Seafarer
25: Global Beatles Day
25: National Catfish Day
25: Tammuz
26: International Day Against Drug Abuse and 26: Illicit Trafficking: 26
26: International Day in Support of Victims of Torture: 26
26: National Canoe Day
26: National Hand Shake Day
27: Decide To Be Married Day
27: “Happy Birthday To You” Day
27: Industrial Workers of The World Day
27: National HIV Testing Day
27: National Bomb Pop Day
27: PTSD Awareness Day
28-29: ARRL (American Radio Relay League) Field Day
28: Great American Backyard Campout
28: Ramadan begins: 28
29: America’s Kids Day
29: Log Cabin Day
30: Descendants Day
30: Leap Second Time Adjustment Day
30: Please Take My Children To Work Day
30: NOW (National Organization For Women) Day